[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49320-49321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16643]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National science Foundation (NSF) 
is inviting the general public or other Federal agencies to comment on 
this proposed continuing information collection. The National Science 
Foundation (NSF) will publish periodic summaries of the proposed 
projects.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by October 24, 
2005, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send 
e-mail to [email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., eastern 
time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title of Collection: 2006 Survey of 
Doctorate Recipients.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0020.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2005.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to reinstate an 
information collection for three years.
    1. Abstract. The Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) has been 
conducted biennially since 1973. The 2006 SDR will consist of a sample 
of individuals under the age 76 who have earned a research doctoral 
degree in a science, engineering or health field from an U.S. 
institution. The purpose of this longitudinal study is to provide 
national estimates on the doctoral science and engineering workforce 
and changes in employment, education and demographic characteristics. 
The study is one of three components of the Scientists and Engineers 
Statistical Data System (SESTAT), which produces national estimates of 
the size and characteristics of the nation's science and engineering 
population.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to ``* * * provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The SDR is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the supply and utilization of nation's 
doctoral level scientists and engineers. Collected data will be used to 
produce estimates of the characteristics of these individuals. They 
will also provide necessary input into the SESTAT data system, which 
produces national estimates of the size and characteristics of the 
country's science and engineering population. The Foundation uses this 
information to prepare congressionally mandated reports such as Women, 
Minorities and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and 
Science and Engineering Indicators. The NSF publishes statistics from 
the survey in many reports, but primarily in the biennial series, 
Characteristics of Doctoral Scientists and Engineers in the United 
States. A public release file of collected data, designed to protect 
respondent confidentiality, also will be made available to researchers 
on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web.
    The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago 
will conduct the study for NSF. Data are obtained by mail 
questionnaire, computer-assisted telephone interviews and web survey 
beginning April 2006. The survey will be collected in conformance with 
the Privacy Act of 1974 and the individual's response to the survey is 
voluntary. NSF will insure that all information collected will be taken 
strictly confidential and will be used only for research of statistical 
purposes, analyzing data, and preparing scientific reports and 
articles.

[[Page 49321]]

    2. Expected Respondents. A statistical sample of approximately 
43,000 individuals with U.S. earned doctorates in science, engineering 
and health will be contacted in 2006. The total response rate in 2003 
was 82%.
    NSF is also considering sampling 1,500 additional U.S. doctorates 
that receives their degrees in the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 
academic years, who are non U.S. citizens, and indicated they planned 
on leaving the country after they received their doctorate.
    3. Estimate of Burden. The amount of time to complete the 
questionnaire may vary depending on an individual's circumstances; 
however, on average it will take approximately 25 minutes to complete 
the survey. We estimate that the total annual burden will be 18,000 
hours during the year. If the additional 1,500 respondents who had 
plans to leave the United States are included in the sample, that will 
increase the burden an additional 700 hours to a total of 18,700 hours.

    Dated: August 17, 2005.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-16643 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M